MINUTES OF THE CORNWALL BOARD OF EDUCATION MEETING
HELD ON THURSDAY, JANUARY 18, 2007 AT 5:00 P.M. AT
CORNWALL CONSOLIDATED SCHOOL

Board members present were: Wynne Kavanagh, Secretary; Phil Hart, Irene Hurlburt, Catherine Tatge, and Jim Terrall. Barbara Gold was absent. Others present were Patricia Chamberlain, Superintendent of Schools; Theresa Terry, Director of Pupil Services; and Kathleen Fitzgibbons, Principal.

Mrs. Kavanagh called the meeting to order at 5:00 p.m.

On a motion by Ms. Tatge, seconded by Mr. Hart, the minutes of the December 21 meeting were approved.

There were no communications to the Board.

Mr. Hart reported on Region One activities. As they continue to plan for a gym complex at the high school, a study group is looking at needs and visiting other gymnasiums. The Standing Building Committee is discussing the future of the White House, which currently houses Housatonic Youth Services Bureau and Pupil Services, and also the old AgEd building. Mr. Hart said that there were serious budget issues this year. Declining enrollments affect staffing, curriculum, and programming. Governor Rell’s Education Task Force was discussed at the Legislative Breakfast. David Lindsay is retiring after teaching for 35 years at HVRHS. One of the HVRHS music groups is headed to Florida.

There was no Board of Finance report.

Mr. Terrall reported that the dumpster area has been fenced in and the Building Committee will soon be dissolved.

Ms. Chamberlain – Superintendent’s Report

• Distributed enrollment figures for Cornwall comparing state and NESDEC (New England School Development Educational Center) projections. They are fairly close over the next five years.

• The reason why there is little dialog recently about No Child Left Behind is that our schools fall into small subgroups and don’t show up on any of the “warning” lists. The main change is that instead of practice tests in 3^rd, 5^th, and 7^th grades, those students are taking actual tests, and the state is paying for it.

• The new Commissioner of Education for Connecticut is Massachusetts educator Mark K. McQuillan.

Dr. Fitzgibbons – Principal’s Report

• Three new students bring current enrollment to 132.

• Juliet Lyon spoke with the 3^rd, 4^th, and 5^th graders about Africa and how their work with the Roots & Shoots program has helped students in Mozambique.

• The January 29 the PTA and CCS will sponsor Shakespeare & Company’s Macbeth, to which all home schooled students have been invited.

There was no Old Business.

There was no New Business.

Ms. Chamberlain noted that on January 28 at 4:00 p.m. at the Salisbury Congregational Church, A Winter Potpourri of Song with Anne Chamberlain and Monte Stone will benefit the Educational Collaborative.

On a motion by Ms. Tatge, seconded by Mrs. Hurlburt, the Board went into Executive Session to discuss the superintendent evaluation at 5:41 p.m.

The Board came out of Executive Session. No action was taken.

The meeting was adjourned at 6:05 p.m.

Susan F. Gingert

Board Clerk